All About Getting Help for Students Weak in Math

[Tazyspin]

Hi Kitty2,


My gal will be in Pri 3 next year. I suspect she has problem linking and understanding passages and many sentences.

Cheers!

[comfy]

Tazyspin:

My gal had never like Math since she was in Pri 1. However, her Math improved this year after the father started coaching her. Unfortunately, she failed by 2 marks for her SA2. We were puzzled because we had given her top schools exam papers to prepare her and she did not fail a single paper but made very good progress from each papers. Although, the form teacher highlighted thay had raised the standard for the final exam, I am sure my gal would have at make a pass.


Anyhow, my husband shared with me that my gal has no problem doing Math but has problem understanding Math. Especially the problem sums section. This is the area that she gets zero! Her problem is she's not able to understand the question or link them up. It is the same for her English. She is very good for her English paper but her comprehension would always be the section that pull her marks down. Reason being: she cannot remember what she has read, she doesn't capture the story, she didn't understand the passage.

Any parents can assist where I can get help? I've requested for a 1-1 home tution for her. My criteria is the teacher has to be able to ignite interest or better still, make Math interesting for her. If anyone of you have recommendation for such tutor, let me know. Best if she can teach both Math & English.

Thanx in advance.

May I know which school is your dd in? For Math, perhaps you can get the step-by step problem solving math assessment book for her to do and her father to coach her. Then you will know where is her problem and which types of questions and drill her on it. Some of the questions need you to draw or illustrate to her or simplify for her to understand. For English, you can to raad a small passage in the comprehension and ask her questions on it and then move on to next passage. This bit by bit of information will help her to understand and absord better. Infact, by doing this everyday, she will be able to improve. Tutor can help but parents can help more (as tutor can give less time to your dd than you). Hope that helps.

[watmekiasu]

meiah:

I also wonder if my ds got dyscalculia. He's in p2 now. He takes forever to do mental calculations and anything more than 1 step, he will do wrong. I'm thinking of sending him to mpm or enopi or whatever to see if their program can help. maybe he need to start his foundation all over again. Also I'm trying to get him to improve his english to make sure that it will not be a liability.

I think not being able to do mental math is not a disability, esp in one so young. My P4 dd only managed to do some mental math (the learning curve was very steep in this case) only this year and even then, it is full of mistakes. Still, that has not stopped her fm staying in Band 1 since P1. The only thing that stresses me is if she tries to use her mental math for exam papers. :shock: Anyway, one of moms told me early on, that all these hours spent on mental math is a waste of time cause they will all eventually use the calculator fm P5 onwards.

[hquek]

Tazyspin:

Anyhow, my husband shared with me that my gal has no problem doing Math but has problem understanding Math. Especially the problem sums section. This is the area that she gets zero! Her problem is she's not able to understand the question or link them up. It is the same for her English. She is very good for her English paper but her comprehension would always be the section that pull her marks down. Reason being: she cannot remember what she has read, she doesn't capture the story, she didn't understand the passage.

Hi Tazyspin,

Speaking from personal experience, I feel it helps to circle/underline/highlight important parts of either sentences and questions. I used to do it on my own in sec/JC, and I see my kids' teachers (in icl, and in TAS) teaching them the same thing. When reading a paragraph or question, teach your girl to highlight the important parts - then when she is attempting the answer, the highlighted parts may come in useful.

Not sure if this little pointer may be of assistance. Good luck!

[ctct61t]

comfy:

For Math, perhaps you can get the step-by step problem solving math assessment book for her to do and her father to coach her. Then you will know where is her problem and which types of questions and drill her on it.

Hi comfy, could you kindly recommand some step-by-step problem solving math assessment books for me? Where I can get those books...Thanks.

[comfy]

ctct61t:

comfy:

For Math, perhaps you can get the step-by step problem solving math assessment book for her to do and her father to coach her. Then you will know where is her problem and which types of questions and drill her on it.

Hi comfy, could you kindly recommand some step-by-step problem solving math assessment books for me? Where I can get those books...Thanks.

For P2, there is this step by step maths problem solving using models by Simon Eio which I find not bad. If the child is cannot grasp the concept of model drawing to solve problem, this book really has alot of excercises for the child to try. I don't know whether there is book for P3 or upper level. You can get them at Popular or The Big Bookshop.

[jedamum]

hquek:

When reading a paragraph or question, teach your girl to highlight the important parts - then when she is attempting the answer, the highlighted parts may come in useful.

hquek,
OT, but does this apply to CL too? my boy's finds it difficult to understand CL compre passages and what the questions are asking. :stupid:

[Leanne]

Hi all,


Just wanna seek some advice.

What about for pri five child, concept everything is ok, but when comes to doing math, when the questions wanted mango to orange, and the child will give the answer, orange to mango.

20 50 cent coins, 10 20 cent coin, will see reverse, become 10 50 cents along the working.what is wrong with this kid?thanks

cheers
Leanne

[24hr-mum]

my next-year p3 girl seems to hv the same prob too.

gd in basic math, vocab, but poor in prob sum n compre.

copy number also copy wrongly

i hv been getting her to underline key words for math n eng. it helps, but she stimes still dont hv the habit of findg key words

tazyspin, is ur child from elite sch? maybe that sch std too hi?

i find the prob wf my girl is lack of analytical n logical thinkg skills but this is due to immaturity. i really dont know how to help except tuition, n practise n practise ahead n get her underline key words

maybe try do more topical assessment bks or problem sum assessment bks rather than CA/SA/exam papers which contain everythg but u dont know whc area is the weaknesses

[comfy]

Leanne:

Hi all,


Just wanna seek some advice.

What about for pri five child, concept everything is ok, but when comes to doing math, when the questions wanted mango to orange, and the child will give the answer, orange to mango.

20 50 cent coins, 10 20 cent coin, will see reverse, become 10 50 cents along the working.what is wrong with this kid?thanks

cheers
Leanne

Could be not able to visualise what he read ? Ask him to draw out the 20 50 cent coins, 10 20 cent coin and see whether he is correct. Then you will have a better understanding what he is seeing or if draw correct, perhaps need to be more careful.